Wheelbarrow



Feb. 22, 1949. R. A. POPPLEWELL. 2,462,424

WHEELBARROW Filed Sept. 23, 1946 R o T N E v N I B7 8. wJMMo-db ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 22, 1949 WHEELBARROW Ranville Ashmore Popplewell, South Coogee, near Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, assignor of one-half to William Gordon Tate, Coogee, near Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Application September 23, 1946, Serial No. 698,851 In Australia October 16, 1945 12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to wheelbarrows used principally in building constructions for transporting material from one part of the construction to another. Such wheelbarrows have a single wheel mounted forwardly and between two shafts which mount a tray or container therein and two resting stands or legs thereunder, and are difficult to manoeuvre in confined spaces, are heavy to handle when laden and are awkward to tip especially at the edge of a step or ledge.

Another disadvantage of existing wheelbarrows is that it is difiicult to discharge the entire contents of such wheelbarrows quickly.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a wheelbarrow on which a container is pivotally mounted so that the entire contents of the container may be discharged quickly.

Other objects of the invention are to overcome the other disadvantages of existing wheelbarrows which are set out above.

Accordingly therefore, the invention in one form is a wheelbarrow including a container, a frame comprising two laterally spaced longitudinal members, a handle secured to the rear end of each member, an axle mounted between said members adjacent to their front ends, a wheel on said axle, a leg secured to each member between said handle and said wheel and axle, means for pivotally connecting the container to said frame at the front end of said container and means for connecting the container to the frame at the rear end of the container, said latter means including longitudinal rails secured to the respective sides of the outside of the container base, a bolt slidably located in a hole in each longitudinal frame member and in a hole in each rail adjacent to its rear end and stop means on the bolt ends to allow limited movement of the rear end of the container away from the frame longitudinal members and, consequently, limited pivotal movement of the front end of the container.

One form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the assembled wheelbarrow frame and container;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the assembled wheelbarrow frame with part of the container removed for clarity;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4. is a view of the front end of the wheelbarow frame showing a stop plate to enable solid material to be carried on the wheelbarrow frame.

Referring initially to Figs. 1 and 2, a wheelbarrow frame 5 comprises longitudinal members 6 which are formed by bending a channel member so that said members 6 converge towards the front of said frame. Wooden handles 1 are fitted in and secured to the members 6 e. g., by bolts 8 and 9.

A base plate or tray I0 is secured to the upper flanges of the members, and serves to brace these members laterally and to support solid objects to be carried by the wheelbarrow.

A container ii for solid. liquid or discrete material is detachably and pivotally supported on the frame at its front end and is detachably supported on the frame at its rear end in such a way as to permit limited pivotal movement about the front end support.

For this purpose a length of angle iron I2 is secured to the container along each longitudinal edge of the base of the container. Each length of angle iron 12 is preferably made by bendin a rectangular sheet at right angles along a line not quite parallel to the long sides of the sheet. The vertical leg of the angle is thus made wider at its front end than at its rear and the upper leg is wider at its rear end than at its front.

The vertical leg of each angle iron I2 has an open ended slot I3 at its front end by means of which the container II is pivoted on pins 14 secured to the frame members 6.

The rear end of each angle iron l2 extends behind the rear end of the base of the container H and the rear end of the upper leg of each angle iron has an open ended slot l5 (Fig. 3).

There is a wedge shaped hole IB through each handle 1 and each member 6 adjacent the rear end of each angle iron 12.

A T headed bolt l'l passes through each hole l5 and into each slot l 5 and is normally kept in the slot by means of an upturned corner 18 of the rear end of the upper leg of each angle iron.

Means e. g., a washer 20 are provided to retain the bolt I! in the hole [6 and a spring [9 may be held on the bolt between the washer and-the underside of the member 6. The washer is held in position as by a Split pin 2| and the spring l9 assists to retain the bolt in position in its-. slot.

To remove the container H the head of each bolt ll is lifted to clear the corners l8 and is then.

moved rearwardly in the hole l6 out of the slot 7 iii to clear the end of the angle iron l2.

Alternatively, the spring l9 may be omitted so that the upturned corner It is the only means for retaining the bolt in its slot.

A wheel 22 is mounted on an axle 23 between the members 6 and adjaeent'the front end of the frame.

A leg 24, formed from a substantially flat plate flanged inwardly at its lower end to form a foot, is secured to each member 6 adjacent the rear end of the container l I.

An inverted V shaped stay 25 has the end of each leg secured to the foot of a leg 24 and the apex of the stay 25 is flattened and secured to the underside of the base plate [0.

A castor 26 of known type is pivotally secured to each leg 2d near its foot and may be held in either a non-operative position as shown or in an operative position by means of holes 2! and 28' and a nut and bolt or the like. The casters facilitate lateral movement of the wheelbarrow when it is resting on the ground.

A prop 30 is secured to the frontend of the bent channel forming the frame in an approximately vertical plane. One end of the prop hasa hole 3! to which, and to the handle I, chains, slings or other supportin members may be temporarily attached to enable the wheelbarrow and its contents to be lifted bodily. The depending end of the prop 30 pushes obstacles out of the path of the wheelbarrow during its movement from place to place.

' The prop as a Whole supports the wheelbarrow, in'lieu of the wheel, when its contents are being discharged.

To enable solid materials such as timber and bricks to be carried, a stop plate 32 is provided. This may have stiffening ribs 33. The plate 32 has forwardly extendin wings 34 andthese in turn have inward flanges 35 and downward and rearward extensions 36. The flanges 35 rest on the upper flanges of the members 6 and the extensions 36 have slots 31 which engage the pins I4.

The flanges 35, extensions 36, slots 31 and pins 14 prevent movement of the plate 32 except rearward rotation about its lower edge.

The legs 24 may be provided with stiffening ribs similar to those on the plate 32., g I

In its principal use, i. e., to discharge the contents of the container I l, the handles 1 are raised, the wheelbarrow is supported on the prop 30 (or on the wheel or on the front end of the frame 5 if there isno propyand the handles are given a few vigorous to and fro movements, These movements are transmitted to the rear end of the container as a series of jerks, the container pivoting about its front end, and the contents of the container are effectively discharged.

If thesprings l9 are used on the bolts H, a relatively lengthy vibration of the container is set up which also assists in dislodging its contents.

7 Iclaim:

* ,1. A wheelbarrow comprising a frame and a container, said frame comprising two laterally spaced longitudinal members, a handle secured to the rear end of each member, an axle mounted between said members adjacent the front end thereof, a wheel on said axle, a leg secured to each member between said handle and said wheel and axle, means for detachably and pivotally connecting a container to said frame at one end of said container and for detachably connecting said container to said frame at the other end of said container so as to permit limited pivotal movement of said container about said pivotal connection, said connecting means being secured to said frame substantially between said handles and said wheel and axle, an angle iron member secured along each longitudinal edge of the base of said container, an open ended slot in the front end of the vertical leg of said angle iron member and in the rear end of the upper leg of said angle 4 iron member, said pivotal securing means coniprising a substantially horizontal pin secured to each frame member between said leg and said wheel and adjacent said wheel, said pin engaging said slot at the front end of said angle iron 'member, said means for connecting said containe'r to said frame so as to permit limited pivotal movement of said container about said pivotal connection comprisin a bolt passing through a hole in each said frame member and said handle adjacent the rear end of said angle iron member and located in said slot at the rear end of said angle iron member with its head uppermost, stop meanson the lower end of said bolt to retain said bolt in said hole and an upturned corner of the upper leg of said angle iron member to retain said bolt in said slot.

2. A wheelbarrow comprising a frame and a container, said frame comprising two laterally spaced longitudinal members, a handle secured to the rear end of each member, an axle mounted between said members adjacent the front ends thereof, a wheel on said axle, a leg secured to each member between said handle and said wheel and axle,' means for detachably and pivotally connecting a container to said frame at one end of said container and for detachably connecting said container to said frame at the other end of said container so as to permit limited pivotal movement of said container about said pivotal connection, said connecting means being secured to said frame substantially between said handles and said wheel and axle, an angle iron member secured along each longitudinal edge of the base of said container, an open ended slot in the front end of the vertical leg of said angle iron member and in the rear end of the upper leg of said angle iron member, said pivotal securing means comprising a substantially horizontal pin secured to each frame member between's'aid leg and said wheel and adjacent said wheel, said pin engaging said slot at the front end of said angle iron member, said means for connecting said container to said frameso as to permit limited pivotal movement of said container about said pivotal conjacent the rear end of said angle iron member and located in said slot at the rear end of said angle iron member with its head uppermost, stop means on the lower end of said bolt to retain said bolt in said hole and an upturned corner of the upper leg of said angle iron member to retain said bolt in said slot and a spring held on said bolt between said stop means and the underside of said frame member, said spring holding the head of said bolt against the surface ofthe upper leg of said angleiron'member and'additi'onaly securing said bolt in saidslot.

'3. .A' wheelbarrow including a container, a frame comprising twoilat'erally spaced longitudinal members, .a handle secured'to the rear end of each. member; an axle' mounted between said members adjacent to their front ends, a wheel on said axle, a leg secured to each member between said handle and said wheel and axle, means for. pivotally connecting the container to said frame at the front end of said container and means for connecting the container to the frame at the rear end of the container, said latter means including longitudinal rails secured to the respective'sides of the outside of the co'ntainer base,

adjacent to its rear end and stop means on' the bolt ends to allow limited movement of the rear end of the container away from the frame longitudinal members and, consequently, limited pivotal movement of the front end of the container.

4. A wheelbarrow comprising a frame as in claim 3 and an approximately vertical abutment detachably secured to the top of said frame adjacent the rear of said wheel, said abutment comprising a substantially flat plate, wings integral with or secured to said plate and extending forwardly and substantially at right'ang'les to said plate, said wings being substantially flush with the outer sides of said frame, inward flanges at the lower front corners of said wings, said flanges resting on the uppersurfaces of said longitudinal members, rearward and downward extensions outside said frame members of the lower rear corners of said wings and slots in said rearward extensions and substantially horizontal pins secured to said frame members to engage said slots, said pins also serving to detachably and pivotally secure a container to said frame.

5. A wheelbarrow including a container, a frame comprising two laterally spaced longitudinal members, a handle secured to the rear end of each member, an axle mounted between said members adjacent the front end thereof, a wheel on said axle, a leg secured to each member between said handle and said wheel and axle, means for detachably and pivotally connecting the container to said frame at one end of said container, means for detachably connecting said container to said frame at the other end of said container so as to permit limited pivotal movement of said container about said pivotal connection, said connecting means being secured to said frame substantially between said handles and said wheel and axle, an angle iron member secured alon each longitudinal edge of the base of said container, an open ended slot in the front end of the vertical leg of said angle iron member and in the rear end of the upper leg of said angle iron member, said pivotal securing means comprising a substantially horizontal pin secured to each frame member between said leg and said wheel and adjacent said wheel, said pin engaging said slot at the front end of said angle iron member, said means for connecting said container to said frame so as to permit limited pivotal movement of said container about said pivotal connection comprising a bolt passing through a hole in each said frame member and said handle adjacent the rear end of said angle iron member and located in said slot at the rear end of said angle iron member with its head uppermost, stop means on the lower end of said bolt to retain said bolt in said hole and an upturned corner of the upper leg of said angle iron member to retain said bolt in said slot.

6. A wheelbarrow including a container, 2. frame comprising two laterally spaced longitudinal members, a handle secured to the rear end of each member, an axle mounted between said members adjacent the front end thereof, a wheel on said axle, a leg secured to each member between said handle and said wheel and axle, means for detachably and pivotally connecting the container to said frame at one end of said container, means for detachably connecting said container to said frame at the other end of said container so as to permit limited pivotal movement of said container about said pivotal connection, said connecting means being secured to said frame substantially between said handles and said wheel and adjacent said wheel, said pin engaging said slot at the front end of said angle iron member, said means for connecting said container to said frame so as to permit limited pivotal movement of said container about said pivotal connection comprising a bolt passing through a hole in each said frame member and said handle adjacent the rear end of said angle iron member and located in said slot at the rear end of said angle iron member with its head uppermost, stop means on the lower end of said bolt to retain said bolt in said hole, an upturned corner of the upper leg of said angle iron member to retain said bolt in said slot, and a substantially flat plate secured to and between said longitudinal frame members, said plate being adapted to space and brace the longitudinal members and to support solid objects.

'7. A wheelbarrow including a container, 2. frame comprising two laterally spaced longitudinal members, a handle secured to the rear end of each member, an axle mounted between said members adjacent the front end thereof, a. wheel on said axle, a leg secured to each member between said handle and said wheel and axle, means for detachably and pivotally connecting the container to said frame at one end of said container, means for detachably connecting said container to said frame at the other end of said container so as to permit limited pivotal movement of said container about said pivotal connection, said connecting means being secured to said frame substantially between said handles and said wheel and'axle, an angle iron member secured along each longitudinal edge of the base of said container, an open ended slot in the front end of the verticalleg of said angle iron member and in the rear end of the upper leg of said angle iron member, said pivotal securing means comprising a substantially horizontal pin secured to each frame member between said leg and said wheel and adjacent said wheel, said pin engaging said slot at the front end of said angle iron member, said means for connecting said container to said frame so as to permit limited pivotal move.- ment of said container about said pivotal connection comprising a bolt passing through a hole in each said frame member and said handle adjacent the rear end of said angle iron member and located in said slot at the rear end of said angle iron member with its head uppermost, stop means on the lower end of said bolt to retain said bolt in said hole and an upturned corner of the upper leg of said angle iron member to retain said bolt in said slot, said longitudinal frame members being formed by bending a single'member so that said longitudinal members are joined at their front ends, and a prop secured to the bend in said single member in an approximately vertical plane, the upper part of said prop being holed and. the lower part serving to remove obstacles from the path of the wheelbarrow during use.

8. A wheelbarrow including a container, a frame comprising two laterally spaced longitudinal members, a handle secured to the rear end of each member, an axle mounted between said members adjacent the front end thereof, a wheel 7 on said axle, a leg secured to, eachmember between said handle and said wheel and axle, means for detachably and pivotally connecting the container to said frame at one end of said container, means for detachably connecting said container to said frame at the other end of said container so as to permit limited pivotal movement of saidcontainer about said pivotal connection, said connecting means being secured to said frame substantially between said. handles and said wheel and axle, an angle iron member secured along each longitudinal edge of the base of said containenan open ended slot in the front end of the vertical leg of said angle iron member and in the rear end of the upper. leg of said angle iron member, said pivotal securing means comprising a substantially horizontal pin secured to each frame member between said leg and said wheel and adjacent said wheel, said pin engaging said slot at the front end of said angle iron memher, said means for connecting said container to said frame so as to permit limited pivotal movement of said container about said pivotal connection comprising a bolt passing through a hole in each said frame member and said handle adjacent the rear end of said angle iron member and located in said slot at the rear end of said angle iron member with its head uppermost, stop means on the lowerend of said bolt to retain said bolt in said hole, an upturned corner of the upper leg of said angle iron member to retain said bolt in said rear slot, a substantially fiat plate secured to and between said longitudinal frame members, said plate being adapted to space and brace the longitudinal members and to support solid objects, said longitudinal frame members being formed by bending a single member so that said longitudinal members are joined at their frontends, and a prop secured to the bend in said single member in an approximately vertical plane, the upper part of said prop being holed and the lower part serving to remove obstacles from the pathof the wheelbarrow during use. 7

9. A wheelbarrow as in claim including a spring held on said bolt between said stop means and. the underside of said frame member, said spring holding the head of said bolt against the surface.. of the upper leg of said angle ironmember and additionally securing said bolt in said slot. V

10. A wheelbarrow as in claim 5 including a spring held on said bolt between said stop means and the underside of said frame member, said spring holding the head of saidbolt against the surface of the upper leg of said angle iron member and additionallylsecuring said bolt in said slot, and a substantially fiat plate secured to and betweensaid longitudinal frame :members, said plate being adapted tospace and brace the longi-- tudinal members and to support solid objects.

11 A wheelbarrow as in claim 5 including a spring held on said bolt between said stop means and the underside of said frame member, said spring holding the head of said bolt against the surface of the upper leg of said angle iron member and additionally securing said bolt in said slot, said longitudinal members being formed by bending a single member so that said longitudinal members are joined'at their front ends, and a prop secured to the bend in said single member in an approximately vertical plane, the upper part of said prop being holed and the lower part serving to remove obstacles from the path of the wheelbarrow during use.

12. A wheelbarrow as in claim 5 including a spring held on said bolt between said stop means and the underside of said frame member, said spring holding the head of said bolt against the surface of the upper leg of said angle iron memher and additionally securing said bolt in said slot, said longitudinal members being formed by bending a single member so that said longitudinalmembers are joined at their front ends, a prop secured to the bend in said single member in an approximately vertical plane, the upper part of said prop being holed and the lower part serving to remove obstacles from the path of the wheelbarrow during use, and a substantially fiat plate secured to and between said longitudinal frame members, said plate being adapted to space andbrace the longitudinal members and to support solid objects.

RANVILLE ASHMORE POPPLEWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 154,923 Stern Sept. 8, 1874 528,251 Grenier Oct. 30, 1894 879,861 Ferguson Feb. 25, 1908 959,265 Schoonmaker May 24, 1910 1,497,478 Bludworth June 10, 1924 

